Radial cylinder engine



May 19, 1953 H. C. DUNNING RADIAL CYLINDER. ENGINE Filed Sept. 10, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY May E9 l953 HpfndNNlNiG 2,638,876

RADIAL CYLINDER ENGINE Filed Sept. 10, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VE' TOR ATTORNEY May 19, 1953 H. c. BUNNING 2,638,876

RADIAL CYLINDER ENGINE Filed s ep'; Io, 1951 5 sheets-sheet s INVENTOR BY f/Mlyw ATTORNEY May 19 1953 H.--c.,-DUNN|NG 2,638,876

RADIAL CYLINDER ENGINE Filed Sept. 10. 1951 v 5 Sheets-#Sheet 4 a7 if 6 0 O (O I N VEN TOR FIG.. l Iyar/jy 'uzzzz/zy ATTORNEY May 19, 1953 H. c. DUNNING RADIAL CYLINDER ENGINE Filed sept. 1o, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR f Harry w??? z'ny ATTORNEY Patented May 19, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RADIAL CYLINDER ENGINE Harry C. Dunning, Columbus, Ohio Application September 10, 1951,'Serial No. 245,856 4 claims. (c1. 121-;120)

This invention relates to engines or motors of the type in which a working fluid is expanded in cylinders disposed radially of the crank shaft or longitudinal axis of the engine. l

- An object of this invention is to provide a radial cylinder engine in which steam, or other equival y lent expansible working fluid, is, through the operation of an improved. reciprocatory valve mechanism, introduced at timed .intervals into the ends of the cylinders to effect, through expansion of the fluid, piston reciprocation,

It is another object of the invention to provide i a radial cylinder engine in which piston reciprocation is effected by the employment of an expansible working fluid produced exteriorly of the engine and introduced into the engine cylinders .through an improved reciprocatory valve mechanism actuated by the operation of the engine crank shaft.

Another object of the invention is to provide an engine of the character set forth in which rex1 ciprocatory valve mechanism, admitting a working fluid into the engine cylinders, is actuated by an adjustable cam plate mechanism, which is lrotatably driven through the engine crank-shaft. Still a further object of the invention is to provide in an engine of the character set forth a manually operated means for varying the longitudinal positions of operation of the cam plate mechanism to govern the port opening and closing movements of the slidable steam-admitting valves, and, additionally, controlling the operation of said valves to reverse the direction of rotation of the engine or motor shaft.

The invention disclosed in this application constitutes a continuation-impart of the disclosure `contained in my prior application, Serial No. 177,454 filed August 3, 1950, now abandoned.

.For a further understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view ,taken through a radial cylinder steam engine formed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 isa vertical transverse sectional view vtaken through the radial cylinders of the engine on the plane indicated by the line 2---2 of Fig. l. In this, figure, there is disclosed the sliding pistons of the engine and the connecting rods uniting the pistons with the associated engine crank shaft.

Fig. 3 is a similar view takenon the plane indil cated by the line 3 3 of Fig. 1 and disclosing Vmore particularly the crank shaft carried wabble plate mechanism for governing the operation of vthe engine valves;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View taken on the plane indicated by the line 4--4 of Fig. 3, and disclosing the manually operated means for varying the operating positions of the wabble plate assembly in controlling and reversing the direction of rotation of the engine crank shaft;

Fig. 5 is a similar view on the plane disclosed by the line 5-5 of Fig. l, setting forth improved adjustable cam means for controlling the longitudinal positions of adjustment of the wabble plate carrying sleeve in governing the timing o f the slidable steam-admitting valves;

Fig. Gis an enlarged detail vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through the wabble plate assembly and the union between the same and g the steam-admitting valves;

Fig. '7 is a detail vertical sectional View on the line I-'I of Fig. 5,` disclosing the motion-transmitting gearing employed in governing the cam adjustment of the wabble plate sleeve;

Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 8 8 of Fig. 1, setting forth the crank shaft carried drive collar and the adjustable slotted union between said collar and the sliding clutch fingers on one end of the wabble plate sleeve. I Y

Referring more particularly to the specific embodiment of myy improved radial cylinder` engine,

as the same has been illustrated herein, the same comprises a casing, including a cylinder section I0, a valve section II, a cam plate housing section I2, a front bearing section I3 and a rear bearing section I4. These sections are 'adapted to be bolted or otherwise securely united to produce a rigid assembly in which the various in'- ternal parts of'my improved engine are contained, I do not, however, restrict myself to the precise details respecting the formation of these sections nor the manner of joining the same.

Arranged axially and longitudinally of the casing structure for rotation therein is a crank shaft I5. This shaft is also of sectional construction, as indicated by the sections Ia and I5b. The

section I5a generally possesses a greater diameter in transverse cross section than the section I5b. In this instance, the section I5a is supported for rotation in connection With anti-friction bearings I6 which are arranged in a chamber II pro- -vided in the front bearing section I3. Also, the

front bearingsection is formed with a bore I8 receiving an oil ring I9, packing rings 20 and a clamping nut 2|, the latter being accessible from `one end of the bearing section I3 to control the compaction applied thereby to the packing rings 20. A lubricating'oil may be admitted under pressure from an oil pump or other sourceof supply, not shown, by Way of a pipe 22. The latter extends into a transverse passage 23 formed in the bearing section I3 and communicates with ports provided in the ring I9, oil under pressure being conducted axially through the crank shaft section 50, by Way of the passages indicated at 24.

rI'he inner end 01' the section I5a of the crank shaft terminates in a crank member 25. The outer end '2'6 of this 'crank member is '0i reduced diameter and is received in a socket 21 provided in the complemental inner end 2G of the crank section b, the two sections of the crank shaft being rigidly united to produce in eiect a single composite structure.

The separation of the crankshaft admi-ttedsby the crank member and the socket construction 21 provides for the convenient mounting `ci `a connecting rod assembly on the crank member. the `'spec'iiic 'form of 'the invention illustrated, atiliicll lt'vvill-be understood may be Widely varied, the 'connecting 'rod 'assembly `provides an axial beailigsleei/e 9 and spaced outer ldisks 36. BeY- 'tween Cthe ldisks 30, there is Jfastened the inner end of a An'la's'tel- 'connecting rod 3 i, 'the -latter be-V ing secured 'to said "disks by ine'an's 'of 'a pair of bolts "5332, which 'are 'headed at one end, having 'anliispesilteeiicei `y`ea'eh:stretti threaded for ieeep'- tion -in openings formed in one o'f the disks 38, "hereby '-iigillyiihitlhg'the inner end of Athe master connecting rod with the crank assembly providedl'by the icislts su, the sleeve 29 and the crank member L'25.

'i'h/ecliter 'en'dfof the connecting lrod 3l 'is Tprovided with a spherical enlargement 33, 'Which is ieeeiveljiri la 'seiiiieirctilar `soeltet formed ih a thrust plate j3d which is carried b'y theinner or under side "of a 'master piston 5355, the Vlatter being arranged for vsliding movement in one or a `plufllt'y, :is 'this ihst'ahee eight, radially disposed cylinders Si; 4forni-led in the 'cylinder Y'sec-tion 1Q, and Wlfiic'z'h are arranged symmetrically about tliec'rankishaft t. The spherically'enlarged end "'sa ci the master eenheetihg 'roel is hele ih faim but movable engagement with the semisphrical suriaeef the thrust plate 34 hyajhiit 31, kwhich sscre'w Athreaded into the piston l35 and engages with e. 'thrust washer se 'so fthatntvheh the mit si is "tightened, the ehlsigemehtss er the ie'ei 3l isseeiii'elyietaihed inhperatihgeehtatt with the Vplate 34.

iiiiiisily, 'cofres-pending historische are 'provided ih ef the remaining 'eyiihileis of ith-e casihg'seetieh l aesshownihiifig. 2. `'pis'thhs 24th are 'joined `with the outer -encs of auxiliary 'ohiieetihg iteils sie, which `pessessthe same lteniigiiiatioh als the mast-ei connecting ieu. The inneren-isti the 'tous 31 aai-e united with knuckle pi s "it initieel with the disks all and disposed atively piitailel relationship. The veenhettingrhd's '31 'and 31u. may be'cent'rallyboredfto pro'- `vide lubricant passages 'which communicate with 'he `lubricant passages of the Vcrank shaft. l'

l 'The 'litr 'ends "of the radial cylinders '35` are 'elseil Ahy iheahs of veletetehahl'e heads '4o. co-h;- iieetedttith `these heads are 'threaded hippies il ihihed with the 'ends -of steeiiheenilhetiris pipes t2, the latter l'eaziih'g froihthe :valve section "ll df `the easing 'structure and 'are employed to tifahs'- init 'elastieiwo'ikihg fluid, such as steam, frein a 'suitable source 'ei supply to the 'cylinders es "fi eshahsih ih 'the latter -ih producing piston 'iieiiifocatioh nach 'of the cylihd'eisihidwayef its length is "tesmed with a reti of exhaust ports ing predetermined expansion and piston movement, is caused to escape and transmitted to a circular exhaust manifold indicated at M, which is bolted or Otherwise secured to the front side of the casing section lil.

Steam, or other elastic fluid, obtained from any suitable generator, such as that set forth in lny above-identined copending application, is transferred by italy of a pipe line E5 to an annular chamber et formed inthe valve section ll of the casing structure. The chamber et is disposed Iin a substantially vertical plane, and is intersected 'by `a plurality of horizontally extending parallel bores 4l, corresponding in number With that f'of the 'cylinders 3&3. Positioned in each of -theboresiinl is a sleeve 43, which is flanged at one end, as indicated AYat 49.

F'Slidably positioned in each of the sleeves 48 is a reciprocatory spool-type balanced valve 50. Each valve `is formed to include headed'ends iindicated at 4ia and 50h, which 'are united by fa stein '5to of Areduced diameter, each of the Lheads being advantageously Vequipped with piston rings '56d fhavin'g engager'nient with the inner walls of the `associated 4sleeve 'Each 'of the sleeves 4is -ormed With Kopenings 5I which register with the chamber 46, so that When an-associated valve oc yc'uiiies vthe `:position `shown at the top 'of Fig. -1, steam, 'lol' Kother expansible fluid, is transmitted from the source of steam supply through the valve assembly and thence to :one of the cylinders A3&3, in which the :piston 3?'3 therein vis shown at the outermost .positionof its stroke. Steam so `adm'itted into a cylinder -36 expands, thereby 'causringthe piston 35 'therein to move `Vintvardlyof the cylinder and, through its associated 'connecting frodmechahism,'apply rotating lpower-to the crank shaft. Mechanism, as hereinafter deined, is utilized for controlling the `sliding movement of the valves "5t 'in v"e'ifecting the desired 'timing ol theiroperati'on fin supplying 'steam to Ithe Working cylinders. IAlso, 'the valve mechanism functions at Yrequired'period or periods `i`o'r curtailing the steam supply, as will be lpresently explained.

Centrally, "the valve section il 'is iiormed with a socket -52 which surrounds ythe section 15b of -the crank shaft. This portion of the 'crank shaft isfsupportedb'ymea'ns of 'ball bearings 53, or their equivalents, supporting the lshaft for rotation in the I`lon'gitudinal center 'of the casing structure. Additionally, 'the i'ear bearing vsection I of the casing structure is -:provided with one Vor more similar ball-bearing assembliesd for supporting vthe rear and outwardly projecting end of the icrank-shaft. The bearing section hl includes a comprss'ihle packing 55 which surrounds 'the lout vvardly projecting end "of the crank `shaft and seals 'the rear fend of lthe casing structure, in the sarnefmanner kas 'the frfont end thereof vis settl'eiihy thehaehihgili. Ah'ailiiistahle follower 56 is ca" ed 'bythe bearing 'se'c'tlo'n llil and bears fdrl'lthe packing '$5 lrto 'control compaction thereof its. Asfshowhfih Figs. lfah'ei `c," Lis cellar is fertiles 'with parallel openings its, lin

The cam or wabble. plate assembly includes an' annular raceway -in which the ball elements 69 are seated, the raceway being formed in the mainring of the assembly 61, and in an associatedand separable clamping ring 1 I.

Normally, the cam or wabble plate assembly asumes the operating position disclosed in- Figs.

1 and 6, in which the same occupies an operatingplane adjustable angularly to the vertical. As. the assembly 61 rotates by the action of the drive collar 58, the sleeve 6|, the sliding collar 63 and the links 65, reciprocatory movement is imparted to the steam lvalves 58, causing the heads 58a and V5812 of said valves to cover and uncover the steam now governing ports formed in the sleeves 48. l To ladjustthis mechanism, in order to control the timing of the valves, 58 in admitting vsteam into the cylinders 36 from a source of supply and cutting off the same at the desired period for cylinder expansion, the sleeve 6| is formed with integral spaced circular iianges or Webs 12, the latter defining between them an annular groove 13. Arranged in this groove are bars 14 which are formed with cylindrical llongitudinally ex tending open-ended bores for the reception of eccentric rods 15. These rods have their ends journaled in bearings 18 formed in the Walls of thehousing section I2Y of the casing assembly, as shown in Fig. 5. Motion is transmitted between these rods so that bothl of the same will be rotated simultaneously by the provision ofrntermeshing spur-toothed gears 11, disclosed more particularly in Figs. 5 and '7. One end of the uppermost Aof the rods 15 is extended through a packed bearing 18 to the exterior of the housing section l2, and has its outer end connected with an operating lever 19. Intermediately of its length this lever has fastened thereto a pivoted detent 88 having a foot 8| which is adapted forselective receptiony in notches Sil-provided vin a stationary quadrant member 83. .By removing the foot 8| from engagement with one of the notches 82, the lever 19 may be oscilf, lated manually, rocking with it the upper of the eccentric rods 15,` this rocking movement being imparted to the lower of the eccentric rods through the'train of gearing disclosedat .11. Due to the eccentricity of the rods 15, movement thereof pushes the sleeve 6I forwardly or back- Wardlyron the crank shaft, and this movement is in turn imparted to the vani or wabble plate "assembly, which advances or retracts the valves 50 in their respectivesleeves in governing th period of port opening and closure. v

In order to reverse 'the direction of rotation of the engine shaft, the cam or wabble plate has its main ring 1,8 pivotally mounted for turning movement on stud trunnions 84 projecting from the sleeve 6l, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. By sliding the collar 63 longitudinally on the sleeve 6l, the cam assembly may be rocked about an axis afforded by the trunnions 84, varying the angularity of the assembly. This enables the crank shaft of the engine to operate at diierent speeds, and to effect reversal when desired 6 in the direction of rotation of the crank shaft. To move the sliding collar 63 in controlling the operating positions of the cam plate assembly,

there is provided, as shown in Fig. 4, a horizontal ly extending rock shaft 85, which is. journaled in bearings 86,-formed in connection with the Walls of the housing section l2. One end of the rock shaft projects beyond the housing section and has fastened thereto the lower end of a manually operated control lever 81. Normally, this lever is maintained in the upright position illustrated in Fig. l by the provision of a coil spring 88 or its equivalent.` In this instance, the spring surrounds a sliding stem 89. One end of this stem is secured to the control lever while the other end thereof slidably projects in an opening provided in a bracket extension 90 formed stationarily with the section I2. By pushing-on the upper end of the lever 81, the rock shaft may be oscillated.

This shaft carries a fixed depending yoke 8l, which` is lsupported for oscillation within the connes of the casing section l2. The lower ends of the yoke 9| are slotted to receive pivotally movable bearing blocks 92, which are supported for vrocking movement on the outer ends of headed studs S3. The inner ends of these vstuds are united with separable semicircular ringforming elements 94 which are positioned in an annular groove 85 formed in the sliding collar 63,

Thus by rocking the lever 81 against the resistance offered by the spring 88, corresponding rocking movement is imparted to the yoke 9| to cause sliding movement of the collar 63 on the sleeve 8l. Through the link element 65, such sliding movement of the collar 63 is imparted to the cam or wabble plate assembly so that the latter may be rocked to move between operating positions disposed equidistantly on opposite sides of a vertical or perpendicularly disposed plane passing through the pivotal supporting trunnions 84 of the cam or wabble plate assembly. When the cam plate assembly is disposed in a plane coinciding with said vertical plane, rotation of the assembly Will not produce reciprocation of the steam flow-controlling valves 58. When the assembly is rocked to assume an extreme angular position, exactly opposite to that illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the valves rwill be operated to produce a reversal in the directionrof rotation of the crank shaft with respect to that obtained by the parts when arranged as in Fig.v 1 While I have shown and described a preferred form of my improved engine construction, it is to be understood that various modifications may be made therein without departing necessarily from the spirit and scope of the invention. I claim:

1. A huid-actuated motor, comprising a casing, a shaft rotatably supported by said casing and lextendinglongitudinally of the axis thereof, said casing being formed with a plurality of radially disposed piston cylinders, the latter being closed vat their outer ends and having their inner ends aesaero expansible working fiuid lunder pressure from a Source of :supply to said valve .cham-bers, valves slidably mounted infsaid chambers, Wabble-#plate means disposed Within said casing yconcentric to and actuated 4by the rotation of said shaft for imparting vsliding movement tor said valves, fluid inlet connections leading from said valve chambers to the closed ends of said cylinders .and operative when said valves `occupy vone position oi operation in said cylinders to admit regulated quantities of the eXp-ansi-ble fluid into said cy-linders to effect operation of said pistons, and yexhaust means `communicating with said cylinders and operative upon predetermined travel of said pistons on power-deliveriI-ig strokes to open and exhaust yspent iiuid from saideylnders.

2. 'lin a radial cylinder steam engine, a casing formed with vaive, cylinder, and control sections, said cylinder section being provided with a plurality of symmetrically arranged relatively spaced radially extending cylinders, each of the latter having a closed head at the outer end thereof and with the inner end of each cylinder opening to an internal lcrank chamber formed in said cylinder section, a shaft rotatably supported vin said casing, said shaft including lacrank rotatable in'sa'id crank chamber, pistons slidably mounted in said radialiy'disposed cylinders, connecting rod means uniting said shaft Acrank with said pistons, said valve lsection being formed With a plurality o! `siziac'ed parallel longitudinally extending open-ended chambers, valves having spaced heads united by stems of reduced diameter slid vably positioned in said Valve chambers, passage means controlled bythe operating positions oi Said Valves in said chambers for supplying an elastic Working ilu'idunder pressure to the headed ends of said cylinders, exhaust means for removing 'the expanded Working fluids from said vcylinders following' predetermined movement Aof the lpistons in nsaid cylinders and expansion yof said 'rior-llingl fluid, a rotatable wabble plate assembly mounted in `the control section of said casing, means for rotating said' Wabble plate 'assembly in unison With said shaft, 'means joining said assembly' with said valves to produce predetermined reciprocatory movementY of said valves* in response to rotation of `the wabbleplate assembly, meansy supporting said w-abble plate assembly to maintain the same dii-ferent planesof operation with respect to the vertical, and manually operated means for adjusting 'and maintaining the Iadjustr-nent of 4said Wabble plate.

'3; ln a steam engine, a casing assembly Acomprising: separa-bly united cyl-'molen valve, control and bearing sections, said lcylinder section being formed with a plurality of radially disposed cylinde-rs', a. shaft lhaving ya crank rotatable in vsaid cylinder section registry with said cylinders, bearing means carried by said bearing sections rotatably supporting said shaft, pistons slidably mounted in said cylinders, connecting rod Vmeans unitingthe crankof said shaft with said pistons, sai-ld va-llveseotion including a `central vertical web formed with :a plurality of 'open-ended chambers'. the latter .being arranged in circularly spaced relationship concentrically with respect -to the axis of and :extending parallel to. 4saidshaft; slidable valves carried by the chambers `ofrsaid valve section, means .governed by the operating positions of .said Valves providing for predetermined delivery of. an expansible Working fluid in 'timed order .into said cylinders, ,means 'for exhausting said iiuid from saidy cylinders. following expansion thereof, a variable plane `rotatable `valveoperating wobble plate assembly revoluble with said shaft, said assembly :being disposed vin said control section, means joining said valves with said assembly 'to produce Sliding motion of 'the valves in vsaid chamber upon .rotation of said as.- semlbly; and manually operated. means accessible exteriorly of said casing assembly 'for governing the operating .plane of said valve-operating assembly.

4, In engine construction.; a casing .formed with separably united valve, cylinder, control and bearing sections, the latter being disposed in longitudinal order about a common axis extending longitudinally through the casing.; a :crank shaft rotatablysupported for rotation about. said axis; bearings in .said bearing .sections in which the ends of said shaft are `supported .for rotation; pistons slidably mounted; in. cylinders 'formed .in said cylinder section; connecting rod means uniting saidcrankshaitwi'th said pistons; a vertical web formed in the Valve section lef said. casing, `saidwebbeing' provided with a plurality of spaced parallel longitudinally extending open-endedchambers ;A a spool-type valve mount ed for sliding movementin each of said chambers; :passage means entering the web -of said valve section and extending to said rchambers and (from said chambers to said piston cylinders, said passage means serving to: conduct an elastic Working fluid under pressure from a .source .of supply to said cylinders; Aa variable plane wabole plate assembly disposed within said control section of the casing; means joining said assembly f with said valves to produce predetermined reciprocatory'movement of said valves in `response to the rotation of the wabble plate assembly said crank shaft; means supporting said Wabble plate assembly toy maintain the same in different planes of loperation with respect to the-vertical in controlling theV throw of' said valves; tand manually operated means 4for adjusting and maintaining the adjustment of .said Wabble .plate in producing valve motion.

HARRY C.

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986,982. .Herreshoff m Marr 14, 1911 1,423,344 Lundell July .18,4 1922 1,893,595 Perkins et al` ..--..-m Jan. 1D, 11933 

